British Rail Class 70 (diesel)

The British Rail Class 70 is a six-axle Co-Co mainline freight GE PowerHaul locomotive series manufactured by General Electric in Erie, Pennsylvania. They are operated in the United Kingdom by Freightliner and Colas Rail.

This article is about the 2010s diesel locomotive. For the prototype electric locomotive produced by the Southern Railway in the 1940s, see British Rail Class 70 (electric).

British Rail Class 70
Freightliner 70017 working a container train out of the Port of Felixstowe in June 2012
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel-electric
BuilderGeneral Electric
ModelPH37ACmi
Build date2008–2017
Total produced37
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • UICCo'Co'
 • CommonwealthCo-Co
Gauge4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Wheel diameter1,067 mm (42.0 in)
Length21.710 m (71 ft 2.7 in)
Width2.642 m (8 ft 8.0 in)
Height3.917 m (12 ft 10.2 in)
Loco weight129 t (127 long tons; 142 short tons) (empty) (135t full)[n 1]
Fuel capacity6,000 l (1,300 imp gal; 1,600 US gal)
Prime moverGE PowerHaul P616
AlternatorGE GTA series
Traction motorsGE 5GEB30 axle hung
Train heatingNone
Performance figures
Maximum speed120 km/h (75 mph)
Power outputEngine: 2,750 kW (3,690 bhp)
Tractive effort534 kN (120,000 lbf) (starting)
Career
OperatorsFreightliner
Colas Rail
Numbers70001-70020
70801-70817

Background and specification
Main article: GE PowerHaul

In November 2007, Freightliner announced Project Genesis (unrelated to GE's Genesis series built for Amtrak), a procurement plan for 30 freight locomotives from General Electric (GE). The locomotives ordered were intended to match older types in terms of haulage capacity whilst at the same time being more fuel-efficient. The project was a collaborative effort between Freightliner and GE, with input from drivers on the cab design.[1][2] The locomotives utilize a GE PowerHaul P616 diesel engine rated at 2,750 kW (3,690 hp).[3] the locomotive meets EU Tier IIIa emission regulations.[4] Freightliner expects that the locomotive's efficiency is 7% better than contemporary models, with a further 3% increase in efficiency whilst braking; regenerative braking is used to supply the energy to power auxiliary motors.[5][6]

The locomotives were given the Class 70 TOPS code,[7][8] breaking the previous convention that class numbers in the 70s were used for DC electric locomotives.

The new locomotives are similar in appearance to a Class 58; a hood unit design with a narrow body typical of locomotive types in use in North America, the cabs are accessed from the rear via exterior walkways on the narrow part of the hood. The distinctive front end shape is due to crashworthiness features[4][n 2] It is also fitted with air conditioning and acoustic insulation to improve the crew's environment, making it an improvement over the Class 66.[6]

Operations
Freightliner 70001 Powerhaul

Freightliner

Construction of the first two locomotives at GE's Erie, Pennsylvania plant was completed in July 2009, with both locomotives tested during the same month.[9][10] The original plan was for two months of testing, with the locomotives then spending a further three weeks being modified where necessary and prepared for transport to the United Kingdom.[11][12]

The first two locomotives arrived at Newport Docks on 8 November 2009.[13][14] The delivery gave GE its first locomotives in service on the British rail network. The first locomotive was given the name 'PowerHaul' at Leeds on 24 November 2009.[4]

Four more locomotives were delivered to the UK on 2 December 2009.[15] On operation tests, 70001 hauled a 30-wagon train consisting of 60 iso containers during December 2009.[15] 70002 also hauled a 19 hopper 1,300-tonne (1,400-ton) coal train in the same month.[16]

On 5 January 2011, 70012 was dropped while being unloaded at Newport Dock when part of the lifting gear failed, causing the locomotive to fall back into the hold of the ship and being severely damaged.[17]

In January 2017, some were placed in store at Freightliner's Leeds Midland Road depot.[18] By July 2018, 13 of the 19 were in store.[19] In March 2020, only four remained in store, the rest having been returned to service.[20]However, by June 2020 all Freightliner examples were in storage at Leeds Midlands Road, with only 2, 016 and 017, returning to service as of July 2020.

Turkish demonstrator

In August 2012 it was announced that the demonstrator locomotive built in Turkey in 2011[21] was to be transferred to the UK and allocated the number 70099.[22] The locomotive was to be allocated to the private owners pool for use as required.[23] On 19 November 2012 it was announced that 70099 was to test trial with GB Railfreight for coal and intermodal traffic trials.[12]

Colas Rail
Colas Rail 70803

In November 2013, Colas Rail announced it had ordered ten class 70s for entry into service in 2014;[24] the order included the Turkish built demonstrator 70099, renumbered as 70801, and the remainder of Freightliner's original order option of 30 locomotives.[25]

Colas' locomotives were allotted numbers in the 708xx range. 70802–70805 had already been constructed at the time of the order and were shipped to the United Kingdom in January 2014, with the rest assembled and delivered later the same year.[26] In 2015, Colas announced the purchase of an additional seven locomotives, which were delivered by 2017.[27] Despite the number range, Colas Rail locomotives remain as Class 70/0 rather than 70/8.[28]

Accidents and incidents
  • On 5 January 2011, locomotive 70012 was dropped when part of the lifting gear failed, causing the locomotive to fall approximately 13 to 20 ft (4 to 6 m) from the crane, back into the hold of the ship. The impact severely bent the locomotive's frame, rendering it unserviceable and resulting in it later being returned to the United States.[17][29] It was rebuilt as test bed and used as a shunter at the Erie plant.[12]
  • On 5 April 2012, locomotive 70018 had an engine room fire requiring the attention of the fire brigade, whilst hauling a freight train on the line between Basingstoke and Winchester, Hampshire.[30][31][32]
  • On 27 February 2016, locomotive 70803 collided with an engineers train at Ivybridge, Devon and was derailed.[33]
  • On 30 October 2016, locomotive 70804 ran away and was derailled at Toton Sidings in Nottinghamshire. [34]
  • On 28 January 2020, a container train hauled by 70001 was derailed at Eastleigh, Hampshire.[35]

Fleet
Subclass Operator Total Built TOPS number range Currently in UK Notes
Class 70/0 Freightliner 19 (17 stored) 2009-2011 70001-70020 70001-70011
70013-70020		 Intended for both heavy haul and intermodal trains.
70012 dropped while being unloaded at Newport; returned to manufacturer for use as a test bed.[12]
Class 70/0[36] Colas Rail 1 2011 70801-70810 70801 Built as demonstrator for Turkish Railways. Transferred to UK in 2012 as 70099. Renumbered 2013.
9 2014 70802-70810
7 2016-2017 70811-70817 70811-70817

List of Class 70 locomotives

Status of locomotives is correct as of July 2020.

Number Name Livery Operator Status Notes
70001 Powerhaul Freightliner Powerhaul Freightliner Operational
70002 Stored
70003 Stored
70004 The Coal Industry Society Stored
70005 Stored
70006 Stored
70007 Stored
70008 Stored
70009 Stored
70010 Stored
70011 Stored
70012 Withdrawn Dropped during unloading in Newport Docks.
Returned + repaired as GE test bed.[37]
70013 Stored
70014 Stored
70015 Stored
70016 Operational
70017 Operational
70018 Stored
70019 Stored
70020 Stored
70801 Colas Rail Freight Colas Rail Operational Renumbered from Turkish demonstrator 70099, previously DE 37 001[37]
70802 Operational
70803 Operational
70804 Operational
70805 Operational
70806 Operational
70807 Operational
70808 Operational
70809 Operational
70810 Operational
70811 Operational
70812 Operational
70813 Operational
70814 Operational
70815 Operational
70816 Operational
70817 Operational

Names
  • 70001 PowerHaul[4]
  • 70004 The Coal Industry Society[38]

See also

Notes
  1. Full mass is 135t, as displayed on the locomotives information plate.
  2. The relevant standard at the time of introduction being EN 15227.

References
  1. "Freightliner Group Orders 30 Locomotives from GE - Transportation for UK Market" (Press release). GE Transportation. 26 November 2007. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
  2. "Freightliner Group Ltd has placed an order for 30 brand new locomotives". www.freightliner.co.uk (Press release). Freightliner. 19 November 2007. Archived from the original on 26 September 2008.
  3. "Freightliner order 30 General Electric Genesis JS37ACi locomotives". TheRailwayCentre.com. 26 November 2007.
  4. "PowerHaul brings Evolution technology to Europe". Railway Gazette International. 26 November 2009.
  5. PowerHaul locomotive specification sheet (Version 3). Freightliner details may not be final
  6. "Freightliner PowerHaul loco design on show". Railway Gazette International. 8 September 2008. Archived from the original on 15 April 2012. Retrieved 2 August 2009.
  7. Rail Express: 5. October 2009. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  8. Railways Illustrated: 13. November 2009. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  9. "PowerHaul® locos ready for testing" (PDF). www.freightliner.co.uk (Press release). Freightliner Group. 10 July 2009.
  10. "Freightliner PowerHaul locomotives ready for testing". Railway Gazette International. 10 July 2009.
  11. Haigh, Philip; Clinnick, Richard (2009). "Freightliner PowerHaul starts tests ready for autumn". Rail. No. 623. pp. 6–7.
  12. Class 70s: a decade of disappointment Rail issue 893 4 December 2019 page 64-70
  13. "PowerHaul arrival brings GE into European loco market". Railway Gazette International. 8 November 2009.
  14. GE lands first British locomotive order International Railway Journal January 2008 page 5
  15. "PowerHaul - Longer, Heavier Trains". www.freightline.co.uk. Freightliner Group. Freightliner is pleased to announce that PowerHaul locomotive 70001 has successfully completed operational trials hauling, the first ever 30 wagon train to and from the Port of Felixstowe
  16. "PowerHaul runs first loaded trial". www.agg-net.com. QMJ Publishing. 4 December 2009.
  17. "New Class 70 dropped during unloading". RAIL. Bauer Consumer Media (662). 26 January 2011. Archived from the original on 15 July 2011.
  18. Class 70s stored Rail issue 820 15 February 2017 page 31
  19. Freightliner Class 70 fleet reduced further Rail Express issue 267 August 2018 page 86
  20. In Brief Railways Illustrated April 2020 page 19
  21. "Tülomsas rolls out Turkish PowerHaul". Railway Gazette. 1 March 2011.
  22. Coward, Andy (2012). "Demonstrator '70' set for UK use". Rail (701): 30.
  23. Coward, Andy (2012). "GBRf in the frame for Turkish '70'". Rail (702): 33.
  24. "Colas Rail orders 10 GE Transportation PowerHaul locomotives". Railway Gazette. 21 November 2013.
  25. "Colas Rail PowerHaul order now official [Updated 2013-11-22]". Mainline Diesels.net. 22 November 2013. Archived from the original on 7 December 2013.
  26. "Colas Class 70 moves". Railways Illustrated. Eastfield Media: 11. January 2014.
  27. Pritchard, Robert (February 2016). "More 70s for Colas Rail". Today's Railways. Platform 5 (170): 58.
  28. TOPS enquiry.
  29. Damaged Class 70 returns to America Rail issue 674 13 July 2011 page 29
  30. "Train fire causes "significant" delays to South West Train services", BBC News, 5 April 2012
  31. Melanie Adams (5 April 2012), "Fire on train at Micheldever causing delays on line between Hampshire and London", Southern Daily Echo
  32. Adrian Williams (5 April 2012), "70018 On fire near Wallers Ash Loop" (Image), www.flickr.com
  33. "Collision between two freight trains in a work site near Ivybridge, Devon, 27 February 2016". Rail Accidents Investigation Branch. 19 May 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  34. "Runaway of locomotive - News stories - GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  35. "Derailed freight train blocks railway line at Eastleigh". BBC News Online. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  36. TOPS enquiry.
  37. Dunn, Pip; Patston, John (December 2012). "Turkish Class 70 to run trials in UK". News Front. Modern Railways. pp. 14–15. GE has confirmed ... 70012 – which suffered a bent frame when it was dropped during unloading at Newport in 2010 – has been repaired but will remain in the USA as a test bed loco for major components.
  38. A. Samuel (11 February 2011). "Freightliner names PowerHaul 70004". www.rail.co. Archived from the original on 20 March 2012.
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